The Movement for Reform Judaism

Following the findings of groundbreaking research published in the Movement’s 2005 report ‘Getting in Touch’, the Jeneration initiative works on the principle of responding directly to the needs of young adults, rather than an institution laying on programmes and expecting people to come. For example, an Interfaith Trip with 10 Muslims and 10 Jews travelling to Andalusia in January 2008 is the direct outcome of a conversation between a student rabbi and a student at the Muslim College.

Indeed, there is already strong evidence that Jeneration is meeting the crucial need of this age group, as identified in the 2005 research, to connect with the Jewish community, but firmly ‘on their own terms’. The website, jeneration.org went live last month and has already attracted well over 800 people through word of mouth alone. The Jeneration ‘Facebook’ group gained 140 members on its first day.

Jeneration.org is a portal to Jewish life and a tool for connecting people. A vibrantly-designed, dynamic and cutting edge website, jeneration.org combines social networking with listings of Jewish events in the UK and high quality new Jewish writing. All ‘Reform-friendly’ Jewish events in the UK can be listed in the ‘What’s On’ section, representing the objective that Jeneration transcend denominations to be a space for everyone. Users are invited to add their own events as well as adding their voice to the ‘Comment’ space and uploading video clips and internet virals they have come across to the ‘We love…You love’ section. There is also plenty to entertain people whilst they are online, such as an interactive fridge magnet and live Israeli radio.

Gabrielle Moss (29), a member of West London Synagogue and Director at digital age marketing agency, SixandCo, led the design team behind the Jeneration brand and jeneration.org. She commented: “I came to this project because I felt there was something missing for people like me who want to connect with the Jewish community but not necessarily institutions. I was excited to be able to get involved to help fill that gap. The response to date has truly exceeded our expectations and shows that Jeneration is what many of us have been waiting for.”

Other ideas from young adults which Jeneration is responding to include an Incubator programme, to nurture Jewish social enterprise ideas, a poker tournament and a Late Bar/bat-Mitzvah scheme for those who missed out when they were younger.

The Reform Movement is committed to ongoing, long term investment in the initiative, with a further £200,000 budgeted in 2008. Two further staff members have recently been appointed to the Jeneration team: experienced Jewish educator and graduate of Jewish Theological Seminary, Stephanie Schissler and Leo Baeck College student rabbi, Nathan Alfred.

Reform Movement head, Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield commented: “Jeneration represents the shape of the future - a community in which institutions are more concerned about the future of the Jewish people than about themselves. We are convinced that empowering young adults to create their own connections to the community, providing them with resources and funding to run their own initiatives, is the only way to ensure a secure Jewish future for the whole community.”

To find out more, visit www.jeneration.org

For further details, please contact:
Andrea Newman, Movement for Reform Judaism Public Relations Officer

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